Skip to main content
GSSA
The 1820 Settler Correspondence
 as preserved in the National Archives, Kew
 and edited by Sue Mackay

pre 1820 Settler Correspondence before emigration

ALL the 1819 correspondence from CO48/41 through CO48/46 has been transcribed whether or not the writers emigrated to the Cape. Those written by people who did become settlers, as listed in "The Settler Handbook" by M.D. Nash (Chameleon Press 1987), are labelled 1820 Settler and the names of actual settlers in the text appear in red.

BROWNRIGG, J.C.

National Archives, Kew CO48/41, 191

Newton Barry

July 1st 1819

My Lord,

In acknowledging the receipt of a letter from your Lordship's office respecting the grant of land given to settlers at the Cape of Good Hope, I beg leave to observe to your Lordship that tis my intention to become a settler there providing the grant of land given by Government would be sufficient to encourage the removal of a large family to so great a distance. The climate and country I am well acquainted with having resided there many years. My friends are all determined to send me there in a very independent manner provided they approve of the grant held out by Government. Your Lordship will be so kind to have me informed of what I may expect.

I am your Lordship's most obedient humble servant

J.C. BROWNRIGG

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/41, 499

Newtown Barry

14th Sept 1819

My Lord,

In compliance with your letter of the 20th July and I have enrolled the names of twenty two men agreeable to the conditions therein contained, most of whom have familys. I am ready at any time it may suit your Lordship's pleasure to send a list of their names and number of each family together with the money required in Deposits. From the knowledge I have of that country having been there many years I am of opinion that a lesser number would not form a settlement that would tend to be in any way beneficial to Government. Should your Lordship sanction my bringing with me a greater number I am confident that the applications already sent to me near the number of one hundred, the names of whom I have deferred enrolling until I have your Lordship's permission. I beg to be informed as soon as possible the number I will be permitted to take with me, when and where the deposit is to be made and when and where we are to sale from

I have the honour to be your Lordship's most humble obedient servant

J.C. BROWNRIGG

Late Lieut. HM 86th Regt

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/41, 598

Newtown Barry

8th Oct 1819

My Lord,

In compliance with your letter of the 20th ultimo I herein inclose a correct return of all the men women and children which I propose taking with me to form a settlement under my direction at the Cape of Good Hope. My Lord I am ready at any time to comply with all the terms specified in the circular letter and also pledge myself to conform to any further engagements that His Majesty's Government may at any time think proper and only wait to be informed when the necessary lodgement of money is to be made for the party I am about to take out (with your Lordship's permission) as settlers; in order to entitle me to a passage to the Cape of Good Hope and a grant of lands there, and am also ready to sign any writings that may be sent to me for that purpose.

My Lord should my return of settlers exceed the number His Majesty's Government may think proper to allow as settlers in that case I beg leave to observe to your Lordship that the first in my list are the men I propose to give the preference to. The men marked as Pensioners being last in my list are to abide the decision of His Royal Highness the Duke of York to whom I have applied for liberty to take them, and whether they can have their pensions in the Cape of Good Hope as they have done in Ireland; if not they are no longer to be considered as settlers for that colony in the list sent in to your Lordship.

As the circular letter specified that the fleet will sail in November I humbly request your Lordship's instructions what further steps I am to take preparatory to going and have the honour to be your Lordship's most obedient humble servant

J.C. BROWNRIGG

Late Lieut. 86th Foot

Name and Description of the Person taking out the Settlers:

J.C.BROWNRIGG

Late Lieut. 86th Foot

Aged 45 years

Deborah BROWNRIGG

His wife aged 38

Thomas BROWNRIGG aged 13

[obscured] BROWNRIGG aged 6

His children

George HILL [illegible, thought to refer to servant]

Mary A. NEILL aged 20

Servant Maid

Names of Settlers

Profession or Trade

Age

Names of the Women

Age

Male Children

Age

Female Children

Age

Thomas PEROLER

Victualler & Farmer

35

Margaret

35

William/John/Thos.

10/9/7

Hannah/Eliza

11/4

William MYERS

Farmer

35

Mary

34

Wm/Nathan'l/Sam'l

13/10/7

Susan/Jane

5/3

John MYERS

Farmer

20

Jane

19

Joseph/Rob't twins

1/1

   

Samuel FERRAR

Blacksmith

24

Jane

36

   

Anne

1

George ATKIN

Agriculturalist?

44

Anne

40

John/Richard

13/10

   

Samuel ATKIN

Farmer

26

Mary Ann

24

   

Eliza/Rebecka

4/3

Spencer ELLIOTT

Farmer

44

Sarah

44

David

13

Margaret

15

Spencer ELLIOTT

Farmer

21

Catherine

15

       

John ELLIOTT

Farmer

24

Elizabeth

22

Spencer

5

   

Thomas ELLIOTT

Farmer

27

Susan

24

William/John

1/7

Margaret

9

Samuel BAGGS

Farmer

42

Mary

30

Step'n/Geo/Edw/Benj

15/13/7/4

Sarah

10

John CHAPMAN

Farmer

37

Mary

38

John/Edw

5/3

Jemima

2

Richard BRYAN

His apprentice

12

           

Joseph EVILLY

Miller & Farmer

40

Mary

35

Joseph/William

9/7

Alicia/Eliza

11/4

Robert EVILLY

Farmer

19

Jane

18

       

Thomas CARLY

Mason

36

Mary

34

John

3

Mary

2

Miles LAWLESS

Shoemaker

26

Hannah

24

   

Jane/Eliza

3/1

H.Michael LAWLESS

Shoemaker

24

Susan

23

John

3

Mary/Eliza

4/2

William LAWLESS

Shoemaker

20

Elizabeth

17

       

John REDMOND

Carpenter

26

Elinor

24

(mantua maker)

 

Arabella

1

Margaret BISHOP

Wife's apprentice

13

           

Patrick BINGHAM

Hatter

25

Elizabeth

24

John

3

Mary

5

John MATTHEWS

Farmer

35

Grace

31

William/James

7/2

Marg't/Eliza/

Sarah

9/5/1

Richard FREE

Shoemaker

30

Anne

27

Rich'd/William

7/1

Sarah/Mary

9/5

Peter DEMPSEY

His apprentice

17

           

John NORTON

Carpenter

34

Mary

25

Henry/Thos. twins

5/5

Elinor/Sarah/

Jane

7/3/1

William DUCKS

Shoemaker

44

Jane

38

Wm/ Rich'd/John

10/6/3

Catherine/Mgt/Sarah/Eliza

15/13/6/1

William BURGESS

Farmer

40

Mary

43

John/Wm/Samuel/

Sn.Wellesley

13/10/6/3

Dorothy/Elinor/Maria

7/8/5

Michael BURGESS

Farmer

19

   

No family

     

Warren BURGESS

Farmer

18

   

No family

     

Henry ROGERS

Surgeon & Apothecary

44

Elizabeth

34

George/Henry/Wm/

Wynne

13/13/10/6

Elinor/Barbara/Eliza/Margt/

9/5/4/1

Anne WOODS

Mrs.ROGERS dau

20

           

Eliza BAILTON

Apprentice

20

           

James ROGERS

Farmer

19

   

No family

     

James DORAN

Farmer

45

Mary

40

William

7

Anne

10

Michael DORAN

Farmer

26

   

No family

     

Daniel DORAN

Farmer

21

Elizabeth

16

       

Margaret BAILTON

Apprentice

13

           

John WALLAS

Farmer

44

Mary

40

Edw/John/Terrence

8/3/2

Rachel

10

William WALLAS

Farmer

24

Jane

23

       

Francis LAMB

Farmer

24

Anne

21

   

Jane 1

 

Robert CLIFFORD

Farmer & Gardner

30

Anne

28

John/William

3/2

   

Samuel LETTE

Currier

30

Mary

28

James/Samuel

3/1

   

Nathaniel GREEN

Farmer

26

Joanna

24

Edward

2

   

Edward GROVES

Farmer

45

Sarah

40

George/Henry

15/13

   

John RYAN

Farmer

30

Bridget

28

   

Mary/Dolly

4/2

Edward DAVIS

Teacher

35

Anne

28

John/Edw

9/7

Mrgt/Christina

5/2

William TATE

Farmer

25

Jane

23

       

Thomas BARNES

Vine Dresser

25

Susan

22

       

Colin WILSON

Farmer

44

Anne

44

   

Eliza/Anne/

Alice

13/12/10

John WILSON

Farmer

30

Amy

27

       

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/41, 722

Newtown Barry

20th Nov 1819

Sir,

I take the liberty of inclosing you a letter to Earl BATHURST (which I leave unsealed for your perusal) and which you were so kind to say in Newtown Barry that if I therin referred his Lordship to you you would report favourably of me.

The circular letter that I received permitted the bringing out of one hundred familys. I was induced by the knowledge I had of that country (having resided there for many years) to enroll nearly that number, all of whom are well able and willing to lodge the necessary deposit when called on for themselves & family & are further able to support themselves there until the crops of their lands would come forward without their being of any expence to the Government.

The Lord Bishop of Ferns has proposed to provide a clergyman for the party (if approved of by Government) and has allso assured me of his interest.

I may say that nearly my all is expended in making preparations for myself & family settling at the Cape of Good Hope & if I should fail in obtaining my grant I will be unavoidably ruined and a great many more who are in my list who are equally [obscured] will be most injured and disappointed.

I have heard that a great number of persons in England who had obtained grants have declined going, therefore it is probable there are many changes. Your Lordship through your kind interference I hope to be fortunate enough to proceed. Had I your interest and recommendation on my first application Government would most likely have given me the grant before this time. I will hope that you will be so good s to let me know what my expectation in future may be, but in case I am disappointed for the present hope you will interest yourself in my favour in procuring me the grant this coming spring & I am willing to conform to every regulation and bring out any number of settlers that his Lordship as His Majesty's Government may think proper to promote & I most anxiously await for your kind answer.

I remain your very obdt & humble sevt

J.C. BROWNRIGG

 

article_separator

 

National Archives, Kew CO48/41, 724

Newtown Barry

20th Nov 1819

My Lord,

Your letter notifying that the lists for this season have been completed has very much disappointed both me & the settlers who had engaged to accompany me to the Cape of Good Hope particularly as we all had the necessary deposits ready – from my early application & preparations we are very much disappointed & our affairs here very much injured – from the numbers in England that the newspapers announce as having received grants & have since declined going perhaps there may still be a vacancy for me and my party – I hope that from the disappointment & expence that me and my party have been put to that your Lordship will be so good as to place me only on your list that is to go out next spring – from His Royal Highness the Duke of York's letter to me I did not think not think it necessary to send in any further recommendation. Colonel BERRY who is now in London has permitted me the liberty of referring your Lordship to him for any character or capability of becoming a settler at the Cape. Anxiously waiting the further pleasure of His Majesty's Government

I remain your Lordship's very obedient and humble servant

J.C. BROWNRIGG

  • Hits: 6148